Should pro athletes go out drinking after loss?

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Sabres goalie spotted at bar after team’s loss stirs debate.

Published Nov 27, 2025 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 3 minute read

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Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen looks on during the third period against the Minnesota Wild Saturday, March 22, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. Photo by Matt Krohn /THE ASSOCIATED PRESSArticle content

A video and photo purportedly showing a Sabres player at a Buffalo watering hole in the wee hours following his team’s loss in Pittsburgh a few hours earlier have sparked debate among a faction of the struggling team’s frustrated fan base.

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Most respondents, however, have been quick to come to goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s defence — unlike the blue-liners in front of him some nights — saying what a pro athlete does with his own time is his business alone.

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The 26-year-old goaltender allowed three goals on 18 shots as the Sabres dropped a 4-2 decision to the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.

The loss, combined with a Maple Leafs win in Columbus that same night, put the Sabres (9-10-4) in the Atlantic Division basement.

A video and photo posted on social-media platform X shows what appears to be Luukkonen smiling as he chats with patrons at the front of a busy downtown Buffalo bar a few hours later.

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“Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen at Forty Thieves at 12:45 a.m. fresh off the plane after a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This is the accountability the Buffalo Sabres organization holds their players up too,” reads the accompanying caption from the account @PavingTheStreet.

Haters quick to pile on

Some social media commentors were quick to diss the goaltender.

“He let in a soft goal as he does every game and couldn’t wait to get off the plane to party,” said one commentor.

The folks behind @PavingTheStreet were actually responsible for most of the negative comments.

“If we win, buying him a drink. However, you’d think a professional athlete getting almost 5 mill a year, supposed to be THE guy, would be getting his body right after a loss. Not hitting the town,” read a post from the account.

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The majority took the side of the Finnish goalie who was not on the Sabres’ watch at the time and heading into an off-day. The Sabres had American Thanksgiving Day off and host the New Jersey Devils on Friday at 4 p.m.

“Not cool, leave them alone when they are off the clock. I think he sucks, lacks consistency, head case, injury prone, but he’s off today, 5000 miles from home, let him drink in peace,” one commentor said.

“The Buffalo Sabres can be blamed for a lot of things. This isn’t one of them. When I clock out from my employer I do what I want. Last I checked it was still a free country. UPL should be no different,” another commentor said.

Not pleased with performance

For his part, the Luukkonen (3-3 with 3.04 goals-against average and .898 save percentage this season) was not happy with his performance on Wednesday.

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“We’ve got to be better as a team,” Luukkonen told nhl.com. “And myself, too, to kind of just not let the game slip away that easily. I think we had really, really solid things in the game, too, today. So, it’s frustrating that we kind of lose it the way like that.”

But I just don’t get it.

An athlete having a drink after a game happens. Win or lose.

But somehow it’s wrong if they do it when you’re around.

Happy Thanksgiving.

— John Wawrow 🤷‍♂️ (@john_wawrow) November 27, 2025

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John Wawrow, a veteran Sabres beat reporter with The Associated Press, offered his own take.

“But I just don’t get it. An athlete having a drink after a game happens. Win or lose. But somehow it’s wrong if they do it when you’re around. Happy Thanksgiving.”

One commentor was able to see some humour in the player’s bar visit.

“I’d drink if I were affiliated with the Sabres in any way. Heavily,” the X user posted.

The Sabres have not qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs the past 14 seasons.

Should pro athletes go out drinking after loss?

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